Plate-holder.



C. F. HOLYBEE.

PLATE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED'AUGJZ. 1914.

1,1 59,673. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

C HeRLEs F HOLYGEE CHARLES E. HOLYBEE, OF HOTCHKISS, COLORADO.

PLATE-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Nev. 9, 1915.

Application filed August 12, 1914. Serial No. 856,450.

To all whom it may concern i Be it known that I, CHARLES F. I-IOLYBEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hotchkiss, in the county of Delta and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate-Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices of that character designed for the purpose of holding plates on tables or other supports and has for its primary object to produce a very simple and effective device of this character for securely holding a childs plate upon a table whereby all liability of the same being accidentally knocked off and broken is obviated.

In its more specific aspect, the invention has for a further object to provide a device of the above character constructed from a single length of resilient steel wire provided with a central elongated loop adapted for engagement against the under side of the table and a. pair of arms having outwardly bowed portions for clamping engagementagainst opposite sides of the plate rim, said arms being formed with inwardly extended hooks to engage over the edge of said rim.

The invention has for a further general object to provide a plate holder which is extremely simple in its construction and may therefore be produced at a small cost, and one which will also occupy but little room upon the table, is strong and durable in construction and neat in appearance.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of application of my device; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, the normal condition of the holder being illustrated in dotted lines; and Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

As above stated, my improved plate holder is devised primarily to prevent children from pushing or accidentally knocking the plate from the table, though it will be unholder from a single length of resilient steel wire of proper gage, the same being provided with an elongated central loop 5, the opposite sides ofwhich extend in divergent relation from its intermediate or bight portion. From the ends of this wire loop the wire is extended laterally and curved in substantially semi-circular form, as indicated at 6, for engagement with the edge of the table, as will be noted from reference to the drawings. The resilient wire is then CXLHCled from the curved portion 6 toward the central portion of the loop 5 and outwardly with respect to the opposite side portions of said loop, as indicated at 7. These portions of the wire are bent upon themselves and inwardly curved to produce the hooks 8. From said hooks, the end portions of the wire which extend beyond the central part of the loop 5 are outwardly bowed, as at 9, and terminate in the inwardly projecting hooks 10.

The manner of using or applying my improved plate holder will be clearly understood from reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Normally, the central loop 5 of the wire holder converges toward the end portions of the wire in which the bowed arms 9 are formed, and in order to apply the device to the edge of the table, it will. be understood that this loop must be sprung away from said arms. The edge of the table is received between the loop 5 and the portions 7 and 9 of thewire which extend over the upper surface of the table. The plate indicated at P in the drawings having been arranged between the arms 9 and the hooks 8 and 10 engaged over the edge of the plate rim, it will be manifest t sion of the wire portion 7 and of the loop 5 will effectually prevent a shifting movement of the holder upon thetable. The base of the plate is thus at all times held in close contact with the table surface. By the proi.

vision of the bowed portions 9 of the holder which are also longitudinally curved to bear upon the surface of the table, it will be manifest that a pressure upon the edge of the plate rim, which may tend to tilt the same, operates to cause a further bowingpf those portions of the wires to thereby 1nnat the spring ten- I crease their clamping pressure upon the-table surface and thus effectively preclude the upsetting or overturning of the plate or its disengagement from the retaining hooks 8 and 10. In this manner, it will be appreciated that the plate is securely held in position, and cannot be knocked from the table and broken, even though it may be struck a hard blow, either accidentally or otherwise. If desired, the wire of which the device is formed may be covered with cloth or other material in order that the polished surface of the table will not be marred by the cl amping action of the device thereon.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have-produced a simple and inexpensive plate holder or clamp which is very efficient and reliable for the purpose in view.- The holder may be very easily applied to the table and the plate, or removed therefrom. The device may of course be manufactured in various sizes, and is also susceptible of various minor changes in the form and proportions of the several structural features thereof, I therefore reserve the privilege of A plate holder formed from a single 9 length of resilient wire bent to provide a central elongated loop, said wire being bent upon itself from the ends of the side portions of the loop, said loop and the returned portions of the wire being adapted for clamping engagement upon the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of a table, the end portions of the wire extending beyond the central bend thereof and being out wardly bowed and longitudinally curved for hearing engagement upon. the upper surface of the table, said wire end portions each having a plurality of hooks formed therein'for engagement with the rim of said plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto my signature in the presence of two witnesses. CHARLES F. HOLYBEE. Witnesses:

W1 R. HINMAN, WALTER R. LOCKHART.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents, Washington, D. G. 

